Lost History.
Fascinating Stories.
Discover over a century of the dark side of Las Vegas Here AT mayhem in the desert.
Las Vegas was founded in the harshest part of the Mojave Desert in 1905. Ever since then the town has been witness to over a century of murder, robberies, arson, and mayhem. Our site is here to explore the stories behind these crimes.
Mayhem in the desert is run by folks born-and-raised in Las Vegas with a passion for the city's history. Unlike any other true crime site, Mayhem in the Desert brings you never-heard-stories and source documents from cases while explaining how the crimes you will read about shaped the history of Las Vegas.
If you want to hear the sordid stories behind over a century of wilder-than-fiction true crime tales from the most unique city on earth, scroll down and get acquainted with the darker side of Sin City.
new true crime tales every 3 - 4 weeks!
most popular vegas true crime stories
kidnapping a gangster’s son
Las Vegas of the 1960’s was in many ways a lawless city where organized crime elements often had more power than the local government and police. Amidst this backdrop, a taxi driver hatched a get-rich-quick scheme to kidnap and ransom the son of a ruthless Las Vegas gangster-turned-casino owner. Click the link to find out what became of his plot.
the “war bride” murder
Bridget Waters flew half-way across the world to make her husband fulfill his obligations to their child. But on a warm Labor Day in 1946, Bridget shot her estranged husband dead during a custody exchange, leading to a trial that put the tiny desert town of Las Vegas into the international spotlight.
murder in the divorce capital of the world
Las Vegas was as famous for its loose divorce laws 100 hundred years ago as it is today. This resulted in a tragic tale of abuse and murder in small-town 1930’s Las Vegas.
the gangster and the fbi agent
A tale involving two pillars of the Las Vegas community ends in a bomb blast in a downtown parking garage. One was the first FBI agent to be permanently stationed in Las Vegas who became a respected attorney and businessman, serving in the Nevada Assembly and as head of the Nevada State Bar. The other was a gangster that ran one of the most popular and profitable hotels and casinos in downtown Vegas who would do anything to protect his gambling empire.
a hospital deadpool?
Headlines across the United States declared an “Angel of Death” was lurking at a local Las Vegas hospital. Was this a case of a serial killer operating in the guise of a nurse or instead a matter of prosecutorial misconduct of the worst kind?
bombing in downtown vegas
By the 1960’s Las Vegas was the undisputed gambling capital of the nation. Amidst that backdrop, a disturbed deserter from the U.S. Army set off a bomb in a downtown Vegas motel for reasons shrouded in mystery.
quick vegas true crime reads
the wildest crimes of old west vegas
Las Vegas was founded at the tail end of the Old West just as the frontier was closing. The early days of Vegas were characterized by conflicting currents of Old West honor codes running up against modern conceptions of law and order - and along the way there were plenty of saloon shootouts, an established Red Light District, and an always interesting cast of characters.
serial murder and sin city
Since the 1970’s, serial murder has seemingly become more common across the United States. And the transient city of Las Vegas, with millions of tourists visiting each year, has served as a hunting ground for several brutal predators over the years. From a homegrown boy compelled to kill to a murderer that preyed upon unsuspecting patrons of off-Strip motels, Sin City has experienced its share of serial murder.
shocking crimes of the prohibition era
The dawn of Prohibition in 1920 brought about a wave of crime fueled by rival bootlegging gangs. And the tiny desert town of Las Vegas was not immune from the sort of alcohol-fueled violence and organized crime that plagued larger locales.
Boomtown - a history of bombings in las vegas
Explosives are the tools of mobsters, terrorists, and common criminals alike. And over the years, Las Vegas has experienced its share of bomb attacks from people acting for a variety of motives.
CONTACT US
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And remember - we are always looking for ideas on upcoming stories, to conduct interviews with those impacted by historic Vegas crimes, and to interact with local historians. Use the form below to get in touch with us!
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PATREON
We hope you enjoy our true crime tales of Las Vegas! Over time, Mayhem in the Desert will be producing books, videos, podcasts, and more. In the meantime, we would appreciate any contribution you might be able to make to our efforts to bring you stories from the darker side of Sin City.